• And starting in January, he wants to broadcast housing authority meetings live on the Internet so anyone with a computer can monitor. The videos will be archived on the authority's Web site: huntsvillehousing.org.

The Times applauds these steps. The Huntsville Housing Authority has operated far too long below public radar. That's partly because of a disengaged citizenry but more so because of HHA's failure to properly communicate its mission and intentions.

"We can't be accused of not being transparent if we can get our meetings publicized," Beason said earlier this week. "I've always said, and we've always said, we're not hiding anything."

Beason said he hopes the advisory council will give neighborhood leaders a clearer understanding of how the authority works and its plans for the future. The group met for the first time in late September and will convene again in December for a presentation on federal fair housing laws.

One glaring omission from the advisory council is the lack of representation from the South Huntsville Civic Association, a group that formed after the authority bought an apartment complex in south Huntsville to convert into public housing. The move caught many in that area by surprise, sparking outrage that led to the association's formation.

Beason said he excluded the association on grounds it has a political action committee that gets involved in elections.

That's not a reason to snub a large area of the city. The advisory committee is limited to just that purpose - to exchange information. Advisory committee members have no vote in actions of the board, so denying the South Huntsville Civic Association a voice will only fuel suspicions that the authority has something to hide.

Homeowners deserve to know when public housing plans are made for their neighborhoods. After all, a house is likely their biggest investment.

The less fortunate need affordable housing in areas that are safe and convenient to services.

The housing authority needs a long range plan that citizens and local leaders can scrutinize and comment on before its adopted.

The challenge the housing authority faces is bridging those divergent viewpoints. Transparency is paramount even when it extends to those with opposing views.